Because of its late flowering period, which falls in October, the autumn saxifrage is also affectionately known as "Oktoberle". The graceful flowers of this plant, which is originally native to China and is ideal for difficult spots in the garden, can be seen well into December.
The Oktoberle lives up to its name
features
- The autumn saxifrage grows in a dense nest and reaches a height of up to thirty centimeters.
- The leaves, arranged in rosettes, are rounded, heart-shaped and seven-lobed.
- The color spectrum of the foliage ranges from green and red to dark brown.
- Mid-September at the earliest, when the days are already getting noticeably shorter, will the flowers appear, growing in loose panicles.
- They stand on about thirty centimeters long, leafless stalks.
- The flower itself has five petals, characteristically one of which is significantly longer than the others.
location
The autumn saxifrage prefers semi-shady to shady places with high humidity. Therefore place the Oktoberle in the light shade of deciduous trees or shrubs. A location in front of a house wall facing north is also ideal.
substrate
The soil should be well drained and rich in humus and nutrients. Pay attention to the water storage capacity of the substrate, since the autumn saxifrage requires even soil moisture.
planting
Plant the Oktoberle preferably in spring, as this gives the perennial a chance to take root and you can enjoy the pretty flowers in the first fall. For good growth, the planting distance should not be less than thirty centimeters.
watering and fertilizing
Always water the Oktoberle deeply, but only when the top inches of soil feel dry. This encourages the roots to penetrate deeper soil layers. As a result, the plant survives summer dry periods better.
Fertilize in April with some organic rhododendron fertilizer. Compost is unsuitable because it usually contains too much lime.
maintenance
After flowering, the autumn saxifrage forms numerous inconspicuous capsule fruits. You should snap these off as soon as possible. You can leave the leaves on the plant during the winter months, as they serve as natural winter protection. Clean out the Oktoberle carefully as soon as the first new shoots appear. An additional, warming cover made of leaves or fir twigs is only necessary in very rough locations.
tips
In the spring, you can propagate the autumn saxifrage yourself by digging up the daughter rosettes and replanting them elsewhere. Breeding from the mature seeds and self-sowing are also possible without any problems.